Massive 12 commissioner Brett Yormark indulges a pupil media outlet with a Baylor Bear hand signal earlier than talking on the opening of the NCAA school soccer Massive 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. LM Otero, Related Press
The Massive 12 championship trophy is displayed on the opening of the Massive 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman through Related Press
Convention growth and the worth the 4 new members convey to the Massive 12 had been among the many subjects league commissioner Brett Yormark mentioned throughout an almost one-hour session to kick off Massive 12 soccer media days on Wednesday.
Massive 12 and convention growth
Over a sequence of questions through the media session, Yormark mentioned the Massive 12 has a plan for growth, whereas not going into element on any form of time-frame or any doable growth candidates.
“We've got a plan. And we now have a plan for growth. I’m not likely going to deal with it at present. Hopefully we will execute that plan sooner, fairly than later,” he mentioned.
Yormark additionally emphasised his pleasure with the present make-up of the convention, whereas including that the league is open to having conversations about potential additions — even from the non-Energy 5 degree — if the worth that establishment brings aligns to the Massive 12 Convention and is value pursuing.
“I really like the composition of this convention proper now, the joy the 4 new members have delivered to this convention has been unimaginable,” he mentioned. “... If we keep at 12, we’re completely high quality with that.
“If the chance presents itself the place there’s one thing that creates worth and aligns nicely with our objectives and aims beginning with the board, then we’re actually going to pursue it.”
Massive 12 soccer championship recreation staying at AT&T Stadium
Yormark introduced an extension that may hold the Massive 12 soccer championship recreation at AT&T Stadium via 2030.
“It’s a world-class venue, most likely the best venue in America,” he mentioned. “It’s sort of good that we begin our season right here successfully (for media days) and finish it right here.”
Tickets for the 2023 championship will go on sale on Aug. 12, the commissioner mentioned, and this yr, there will likely be a “main musical performer” for the sport’s halftime present, which will likely be televised on ABC.
Massive 12’s future plans pic.twitter.com/7ER5AinE3q
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) July 12, 2023
What the Massive 12’s new media deal means for the league
Yormark repeated that transferring forward of schedule final fall to lock up the Massive 12’s new media deal, which is able to take impact beginning in 2025,helps convey stability to the league because it goes via a transitory part — with the addition of BYU, Houston, Cincinnati and UCF this season and the exit of Texas and Oklahoma subsequent yr.
“Simply going early was critically vital for this convention to get the steadiness and the readability, as we all know, there’s some challenges within the media market at present,” Yormark mentioned.
“... I can’t let you know how grateful I'm that we went early and we’ve doubled down with ESPN and Fox.”
This new deal might convey video games for member establishments through the week.
“We are going to discover totally different days of the week for soccer video games, Thursday and Friday,” Yormark mentioned.
The worth the 4 new members convey to the convention
Yormark touted the Massive 12’s model and emphasised the necessity for a powerful social media presence, saying, “Our aim is to attach with Gen Z.”
“We wish to get on the consciousness of (each present and future) student-athletes” in an effort to “proceed to reside and intersection of tradition and sports activities,” he mentioned.
The league’s 4 new faculties, Yormark is assured, assist the Massive 12 accomplish these aspirations.
“Should you had been on social media on July 1, you noticed how these new faculties elevated our model,” he mentioned. “We’re excited to accomplice with these new faculties.
“... We’re now in eight states, we attain over 75 million individuals with these 4 new faculties and so they convey loads of worth to this convention. We’re very excited so as to add them.”
Cosmo arrives, Batty and Slovis on the air pic.twitter.com/cLYZwGyOQs
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) July 12, 2023
The exit of Texas and Oklahoma and the depth of the Massive 12
For one season, the Massive 12 will stand at 14 groups earlier than Texas and Oklahoma depart for the SEC.
This yr will likely be about celebrating the blue blood packages which were with the league since its inception in 1996.
“We’re going to rejoice Texas and Oklahoma, as a result of they’ve been with the convention since 12 months 1,” Yormark mentioned.
Yormark additionally touted the league’s depth — final yr, the Massive 12 was the one convention to ship 80% of groups to bowl video games — and he's assured that the convention will stay related nationally.
“I consider we as soon as once more are the deepest convention in America,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned he’s “not likely competing with the opposite Energy 5 conferences” when requested the place the Massive 12 sits within the pecking order of the game’s high leagues.
“I need the Massive 12 to be the very best model of ourselves,” Yormark mentioned.
He later added, “This convention is larger than any two faculties. I'm excited concerning the future.”
The Massive 12 championship trophy is displayed on the opening of the Massive 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman through Related Press